Mexborough and Swinton Times January 4, 1929

Obituary.

Mr. F. C. Wilson.
A Wombwell Churchwarden
Fine Craftsman.

Mr. Frederick Crossley Wilson, painter and decorator, of High-street, Wombwell, died on Friday, aged 60.

He was a warden of the Wombwell Parish Church, a well-known and popular personality in the social life of the town, and a leading local craftsman. Mr. Wilson had led a very active life until about twelve months ago, when his health was beginning to fail.

Eventually he underwent an operation in a nursing home at Sheffield, but he never fully recovered. He died at his home, where he had lain for several weeks.

Mr. Wilson represented a very interesting personal link with old Wombwell. His parents and grandparents belonged to the town, and he himself was born at the Horse Shoe Hotel. His grandparents lived in a cottage in the hamlet of Smithley, on the outskirts of the town, and it was here that Mr. Wilson spent his childhood.

As a boy he had the artistic sense highly developed, and an old friend recalls that his very first acquaintance with Fred Wilson was when he came across him on a summer afternoon quietly absorbed in transferring to canvass a charming sylvan scene in the neighbourhood of his grandfather’s home.

Mr. Wilson took to decorating almost as a matter of course, and being a first-class craftsman his services were always in great demand. He specialised in the higher branches of the trade, and some notable examples of handicraft stand to his credit. The decoration of the porch of the Wombwell Parish Church and of the ceiling of the Parish Church, Darfield, is his work.

Mr. Wilson was a generous and devout Churchman, and undertook such tasks for the sheer delight of seeing places of worship made beautiful and attractive.

Recently he has carried through schemes of decoration at the Wombwell Parish Church, the, Wombwell Primitive Methodist Church, and’ the Cortonwood Wesley Hall ; and in addition has decorated many institutions and public buildings, including the Welfare Institute at Brampton Bierlow. He painted many pictures for church bazaars and similar efforts.

Often, too, he visited the clubs in the district and painted pictures for charity, his skill as a “lightning artist” provoking much admiration.

Mr. Wilson was also something of an antiquarian. He made a close study of old churches, and had a fine collection of china and ancient weapons.

Mr. Wilson was a son of the Late James Wilson, first landlord of the Prince of Wales’ Hotel, and was educated at Barnsley Grammar School. He served his apprenticeship with John and Joseph Rogers, of Sheffield and commenced in business in the shop now occupied by Mr. J. Mattocks, but had been in his present premises many years. He first took office as a sidesman during the incumbency of the Rev. R. T. Blakeney, and served several periods as warden, sometimes for the rector and sometimes for the people. At his death he had served as a warden seven years consecutively.

Mr. Wilson was a Fellow of the Institute of British Decorators and Chairman of the Painting Advisory Committee of the BarnsIey Technical College. He was a member of the Rockingham (4232) Lodge of Freemasons.

He leaves a widow, three daughters, and one son.